The cat's on the prowl in the luxury car market.

Jaguar's getting ready to pounce with an all-new luxury sport sedan, the XF, and it looks like it's going to be something else.

Jaguar, one of the more traditional of the luxury car brands on the market, has long known that it must offer more contemporary cars in order to garner more sales. But the company wants to do it the Jaguar way -- contemporary with a strong dose of heritage, tradition and British elan as well.

And that's just what the XF, due to be introduced in November and on sale in March, embodies.

Inside you'll find the same kind of crafted, fine materials that you're accustomed to seeing at Jaguar. But there are contemporary touches like phosphor blue halo illumination and interior mood lighting, and a starting up process you have to see to believe.

As you hit the pulsing starter button, a cylindrical cast alloy transmission shift control rises from the console and into your palm. At the same time, the air vents on the dash rotate 180 degrees from their flush, "parked" position to their functional, open positions.

It's cool as all get out, different from what anybody on the market is doing, and it's the kind of thinking that can really create indelible memories of a brand.

A lot of the controls, by the way, stay out of view until you need them, just as a way of keeping the look clean and contemporary. for instance, there's the rotating vents that revolve out of sight when not being used, a feature on the touch screen that allows mechanical buttons to be reduced to a discreet panel below the navigation screen, and other elements as well.

As for that mood lighting I mentioned, you'll get to check out the blue glow around the switch panels, the rotary gear selector, start stop button and electronic parking brake. You'll also see it in the header console, where it focuses softly on the center console in a soft, blue light.

Sounds out of this world, doesn't it?

There will be two engines, a 4.2-liter V-8 and a 420-horsepower supercharger engine. Three trim levels will be offered, luxury, premium and supercharged.

No news on fuel mileage or prices yet.

The other models in Jag's lineup continue to be offered this year. They include the S-Type, which has three models with prices starting at $49,000 to $65,000. There's new front-end styling, a six speed automatic transmission, new standard alloy wheels, and a special "Satin Edition" for the last 750 S-Types,, which will have satin mahogany veneers, leather wrapped steering wheels and chrome/leather shifter.

The XJ also is back for 2008, with an all new seat design for better support and comfort, and standard heated front seats. There are three new paint colors, and a new revised front end design, new side power vents, rear spoiler, full width chrome "Signature blade" and a new rear bumper. Prices start $64,500 for the XJ8 standard wheelbase model, and go up to $94,750 for the Super V-8 long wheelbase model.

The XK series is one of the most desirable and glamorous automobiles in the world, offered in a two seat convertible or coupe. for 2008, there will be 255 XKR Portfolio models offered with a high level of technology and luxury features; there will be four new convertible fabric roof colors, more luxurious headliner fabric, upgrades to the interior, and new polished stainless steel pedals standard on the XKR. Prices start at $75,500 for the XK coupe, and hit $104,700 for a XKR Portfolio convertible.

The X-Type 3.0 and sportwagon will be offered for 2008, with additional standard equipment such as rain sensing windshield wipers, electrochromic interior rear view mirror, message center/trip computer, and automatic on/off headlamps.

Prices start at $35,725 for the X-Type 3.0 and $39,995 for the X-Type Sportwagon.